Having a clutter-free home… Ah, that sounds nice.
As a mama with a toddler that seems kind of… impossible!

However, I’ve been super inspired by Japanese Tidying Master,Marie Kondo, author of the #1 New York Times bestseller, ‘The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up — The Japanese Art of Decluttering and Organizing’.

She’s so inspirational that Time magazine listed her as one of the Top 100 Most Influential People, and her last name has been turned into a verb for goodness sake!

People now share things like “How Kondo-ing Brought Joy to My Life,” and The Huffington Post has an article titled “The Psychological Benefits of ‘Kondo-ing’ Your House.”

Her brilliant method is uncomplicated and liberating. I am pleasantly surprised at the progress I have made with just a couple of weeks of Kondo-ing.

So, how do YOU feel about clutter?

Maybe clutter doesn’t bother you enough (or at all), and you don’t think it’s necessary to get super organized.

Perhaps you feel you don’t have the time or energy for the process.

Do you find yourself hoarding things because you might “need them someday?”

Art supplies for goodness sakes! Important to have, but they sure take up a lot of space. Pretty sure art supply hoarding is a healthy for artists though. 🙂

Or… maybe you’re intimidated by the thought of having to go through everything you own.

Whatever your mindset, decluttering is so worth the headache (and possible backache) of moving around all of your boxes, totes and clothes.

Food for thought:

Decluttering your living space will help you acknowledge the things you treasure most in life, and re-discover forgotten objects that bring you joy.

To begin the method of Kondo-ing,

Pick one item at a time and ask yourself,
“Does this spark joy?”

Is your soul lighting up so much that you don’t want to live without it?

If not, it may be time to let it go.

When you truly define your values in this way, you can begin to live with more focus and intention. As you look around, you’ll feel more calm and grateful.

Before you give away, sell, or discard an item…

Hold the item in your hands and thank the item for being in your life.
You may even express your thanks out loud. However you feel compelled to say thank you, say it with sincerity and love.

Reflect on the ways the it has served you and the memories you’ve created together. Then fill your soul with gratitude for that one object.

I love how simple that is, and how it completely takes away the guilt of getting rid of things you’ve held onto. Not only that, but when I feel more grateful for the little things, more big, meaningful blessings and events come into my life.

3. Tackle categories. Not rooms. In this specific order:

—Clothes

—Books

—Papers

—Miscellaneous

—Sentimental

It’s important to go in this order because sorting through miscellaneous and sentimental items is incredibly time consuming. You’ll get lost in nostalgia and it will make for a slow start to the process of decluttering. It may drain you, henceforth hindering you from moving on to the next category.

Start with the easy things first like clothes and books, then go from there!

These are just three simple tips to inspire your desire to declutter. They’ve helped me to begin the process, and although it’s time consuming and a lot of work, I already feel more mental, emotional, and creative clarity.

I highly recommend the Tim Ferris podcast with Marie Kondo [click here to check it out.] It’s an interesting podcast because Marie speaks Japanese, so a translator accompanied her. I never realized how beautiful Japanese sounds, and Marie’s voice is so darling. She gives great insight on decluttering and shares the story of how and why she became the expert she is!

Also, if you want to read Marie’s book ‘The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up — The Japanese Art of Decluttering and Organizing’ — click here to purchase now!

P.S. I’ve been decluttering my entire home, and even had a yard sale last week! It’s been quite the invigorating project. I’m also preparing to move soon, and it’s going to feel wonderful to pack up only the things that bring joy to my family.

P.P.S. I am an Amazon Affiliate, so if you happen to purchase the book with my link, I do earn a small commission. My promise to you: I only share the most amazing products I’ve happened upon, and this is most definitely one of them. I truly appreciate your support!